MA Caelum, Reign of the Seraphim

Caelum is a magocracy of winged humanoids who inhabit the highest mountain peaks. In ancient times, there were three Caelian clans led by semi-divine beings known as Yazatas. The Raptor clan was accepted by the Yazatas even though they were held responsible for the corruption of Catharsis. When the Harab Seraphs of the Raptor clan began to study dark magic once more, the purifying flames were tainted and Catharsis became Anthrax, King of Banefires. As a result many of the Seraphines died from a wasting disease and their sacred task was abandoned. The Harab Seraphs were condemned and civil war broke out. The Raptor Clan was banished and scattered across the world. The last of the Eagle Kings disappeared and were replaced by the High Seraphs of the Airya clan. The Seraphs are administrators, judges and temporal leaders of Caelum. They are masters of Air magic and craft the magical ice that Caelians use instead of regular metal. The ice tempers with lower temperatures and the heavy ice armor is more durable in cold climates than in warmer ones. All weapons crafted from the ice are magical and capable of harming magical beings. The Airyas live in the coldest mountain peaks and are unaffected by low temperatures. They are thin and light. Spire Horn Caelians are less resistant to cold but have partial resistance to lightning. Since the fall of the Harab Seraphs more of them have turned to martial occupations. The Caelians are skilled archers and prefer hit-and-run tactics, even though they do have some heavy troops, such as huge Mammoths.

Caelum was originally a purely fictional nation of winged humanoids living atop the coldest mountain
peaks. Later development has gifted them with Zoroastrian traits. In a Dominions 4 patch, the nation’s
backstory was remade and more Zoroastrian traits, summons, and spells were added to the nation. The
backstory of a primordial was between Daevas and Yazatas along with concepts of the pollution of the
sacred flame merged with earlier ideas of Catharsis/Anthrax. We also added some new guardian spirit
mechanics based on Zoroastrian concepts of the soul.

Middle-Age Caelum is the original flying nation. All of your units can fly, except for your capital-only troops and your woolly mammoths. Your Spire Horn troops can even fly through storms. On the other hand, their wings make your formations less-dense than those of most nations of guys with their stats.

Your sacreds are capital-only, relatively-fragile, and unable to fly. They're still stronger than your other troop lineup, however.

You can recruit lots of cheap mages that each serve an important purpose other than research, but you're also able to recruit your best mages from any of your frozen forts. The unique Ice Citadel at the capital makes Caelum one of the few nations in this age with 3 commander points, making it easier to amass mages from turn one.

Race	Military	Magic Access	Priests	Buildings
Prefers Cold 3 Flying Size 3 w/ Wings +1 PRE & -1 DEF vs. Humans Airya Caelians: Cold Resistance 15 -1 HP & STR vs. Humans +2 MR vs. Humans Spire Horn Caelians: Cold Resistance 5 Shock Resistance 5 Storm Immunity +1 MR vs. Humans	Magic Gear Ice Protection Tramplers Flying Infantry Archers Some Wingless (Infantry & Archers) ( Some Sacred)	3 (uncommon 4, rare 5) 2 (uncommon 3, rare 4) 1 (uncommon, rare 2) 1 (uncommon, rare 2) 1 (20%) Heroes: 2	Weak (1) Flying Stealthy Hero: 2 Guardian spirits: Priests have a (10% * holy level + 1% * friendly candles in province; negative if hostile) chance of summoning a free Fravashi in battle. National summons like the Ancestral Fravashi are spirits themselves, and thus lack guardian spirits.	Ice Citadel - Starting fort - Melts in Heat - Up to 3 commander points - Administration value affect by temperature Ice Castles - Melts in Heat - Builds in only 4 months - Up to 2 Commander Points - Administration value affected by temperature

Your Dominion spreads Cold Scales to adjacent provinces, by the way. The chance is around 20% ().

High Seraph
The star of Caelum's roster. These poweful members of the magocracy will lead your armies and your god to victory. Since they are so high up on the magocracy they have to time to study other paths of magic therefore have the most diversity of all your mages.

Ice Crafter
The newcomers of the magocracy. While not as proficient in water magic as the High Seraphs, their knowledge of ice-crafting is unique and highly prized. While not serving the magocracy they create help create additional resources turning high-pop low-resource provinces into industrial juggernauts.

Blizzard Warrior
A shadow of their former winged glory that can no longer keep up with their winged brethren on the move. Nevertheless, these sacred heralds of frost are still threat on the battlefield with their magical ice bows. Those who are not accustomed to the snow will suffer with each volley.

Iceclad
The mighty protectors of Caelum lands, donned in ice cold armor that is comparable to Ulmish blacksteel. Just make sure they stay out of the heat so that their armor doesn't melt.

Temple Guard
Mindful that wings hinder them on the ground, Caelum's elite soldiers sacrifice their wings to become the one thing Caelum lacks - dedicated defenders. Highly-skilled sacred infantry - and better armoured than ever - the Temple Guard know Caelum has many weapons, but only one shield.

Fire
One of MA Caelum's weakest magic paths. Realistically the Seraphine has the highest path at 1 (very uncommon). However if you do get lucky and get some fire magic sites it only takes 30 to get 2. However doing this will definitely deplete your fire gem reserves. The only way to get higher fire magic is to Call Celestial Yazad, Call Amesha Spenta, Call Yata, and Call Greater Daeva.

Air
The High Seraphs have the potential to get 5 (very rare). Having 4 or 5 is really still really good. If you still want to boost your air magic without empowering you have two non-relic options, both of which are extremely expensive. The Winged Helmet for 25 and the Bag of Winds for 40, both at Constr4, for the total cost of 65. Therefore the highest non-combat air mage you can have, without relics, is an 7.

Water
The High Seraph have the potential to get 4 (very rare). Again having a 3 is still very good but it doesn't hurt to have a 4. If you still want to boost, you have two non-relic options which is not as expensive as air magic. Robe of the Sea for 15 at Constr4 and Water Bracelet for 5 at Constr6, both of which can reduced by least 1 thanks to Ice Crafters. Therefore the highest non-combat water mage you can have, without relics, is 6.

Astral
Yet another one of MA Caelum's weakest paths. Only the High Seraph has a chance to be recruited with 2. You can have in craft a Starshine Skullcap for 10 to get 3. The only way to get higher astral magic is to cast Call Celestial Yazad, Call Amesha Spenta, Call Yata, and Call Greater Daeva.

Death
Another one of MA Caelum's weakest paths. Again the High Seraph is the only unit that has a chance of being recruited with 2. With a Skull Staff for 10 you can bump that up to a 3. However death magic is arguably easier to get magic paths via empowerment since you have access too Raven Feast if you are having difficulty finding death sites. The only way to get higher death magic is to Call Yata and Call Greater Daeva, or with generic summons like Hidden in Snow and Streams from Hades.

Astral spells

• Call Ahurani: 21 Conjuration 5 for 12 (Ahurani x1)
  A Disease healer who starts land combat with Rain. She can be thugged-out to deal with underwater indies or plague unsuspecting ocean-dwellers. She has ludicrous underwater regeneration and flies in sea battles.
• Summon Yazatas: 2 Conjuration 5 for 15 (Yazad x6)
  Kind of a waste and you should save your astral gems. But, if you do have enough astral gems they make for excellent shock troops. Opinions vary, and for those who use them, Yazad can help justify a bless.
• Call Celestial Yazad: 4 Conjuration 6 for 40
  Summons 1 of 6 Yazads that are discussed in depth in a separate article below.
• Call Fravashi: 3 Conjuration 7 for 30 (Ancestral Fravashi x1)
  Good air magic and astral magic. The Fravashi has 3 so he can be used to claim thrones, and bless sacred-heavy armies. They make reasonable solo combatants, and can communion up to 5.
• Call Amesha Spenta: 5 Conjuration 8 for 60
  Summons 1 of 6 unique Spenta that are discussed in depth in a separate article below.

Death spells

• Parting of the Soul: 11 Thaumaturgy 1
  A good anti-thug spell that paralyzes a target as well as summons 3 Black Hawks. This particular spell seems like it is geared more for EA and LA Caelum as the only death mage is the expensive High Seraph.
• Call Jahi: 31 Conjuration 5 for 15 (Jahi x1)
  Can seduce important commanders, kind of a waste since you would want to save your death gems for other magic.
• Call Daevas: 21 Conjuration 5 for 15 (Daeva x6)
  Another spell that is kind of a waste of gems. However if you need to spend some death gems while getting decent units go ahead and cast this spell. Opinions vary, and for those who use them Daevas can help justify a bless.
• Call Yata: 32 Conjuration 6 for 40
  summons 1 of 2 Yata that are discussed in depth in a separate article below.
• Call of the Drugvant: 41 Thaumaturgy 7 for 15
  A remote attack ritual that sends several bandits and a host of Daevas as well as increase unrest.
• Call Greater Daeva: 42 Conjuration 8 for 60
  Summons 1 of 6 unique Daeva that are discussed in depth in a seperate article below.

Nature spells

• Herd of Elephants: 2 Conjuration 3 for 25 (Elephant x5 + 1/2 extra levels)
  Actually useless since you can recruit mammoths.
• Herd of Buffaloes: 2 Conjuration 3 for 10 (Buffalo x5 + 1/2 extra levels)
  Ok if you want berserk animals
• Ambush of Tigers: 2 Conjuration 3 for 10 (Tiger x10 + extra levels)
  Out shined by your birdmen. Used as fast movers to attack flanks.

More Details in Caelum-Line Summons

Discuss the top few generic spells that most increase a nation's combat power or synergize with national strategies. These will generally be early-to-mid game spells since individual spells matter much more during those periods of the game. Some examples are Foul Vapors for MA C'tis, Horde of Skeletons + Sabbath Master/Sabbath Slave for the Niefelheim line of nations, Mother Oak for the Pangaeas, Wailing Winds access, etc. For broader advice on magic use, link to Not-Lola's Basic Magic Use Guide.

This is also a good place to point out notable magic weaknesses, such as a lack of nature access making a nation vulnerable to Foul Vapors.

• 2 Caelian Seraph & Spire Horn Seraph + Storm Power
  • Wind Guide - Alteration 4 for 1
    Gives all of you units +5 precision to help land their ranged attacks. Best used before low precision spells like Orb Lightning.
  • Lightning Bolt - Evocation 2
    The bread and butter of Caelum. Excellent against thugs and armored units. Damage scales with higher air magic
  • Orb Lightning - Evocation 5
    Helps clear low hp units. Does not discriminate and may cause friendly fire. Damage does not scale with higher air magic.
  • Thunder Ward - Enchantment 5 for 1
    Cast on units that don't have shock resistance or give your existing units additional shock resistance.
• 3 High Seraph
  • Mist - Evocation 3 for 1
    Counters ranged play, just keep in mind that the penalty is indiscriminate and will effect your ranged. Can be combined with Storm to make most ranged projectiles useless.
  • Thunder Strike - Evocation 4
    Does Lightning Bolt but better. Just keep an eye on fatigue as the cost to cast is 50.
  • Hurricane - Evocation 4 for 5
    On its own the spell won't do much and is a waste of gems. However, when you cast this on a capital followed up with a Raven Feast to turn air gems into death gems with a ratio 5:8. This is a better ratio than alchemy at a 1:4.
  • Chain Lightning - Evocation 9
    Does Orb Lightning but better by sending out x3 projectiles. Will maul chaff units but is locked behind endgame magic. Damage does scale with air magic
• 4 High Seraph
  • Raven Feast - Conjuration 5 for 3
    A versatile spell helps break into death paths. This spell can be cast on provinces you don't own and turns the unburied corpses in that province into death gems. Additionally stops plagues in a province. Cast this spell after a large battle or after a disaster to get the most death gems possible. Also great for punishing nations who take death scales.
  • Storm - Evocation 5 for 1
    A key spell that triggers storm power, allows for Summon Storm Power, causes 50% of projectiles to miss, and, without Storm immunity, halves precision and prevents flight. This spell can be combined with Mist to punish ranged units/spells and can be combined with Wrathful Skies to double the amount of lightning strikes.
• 5 High Seraph
  • Wrathful Skies - Evocation 6 for 2
    Good but indiscriminate. The larger the army, the more damage it will do. Combine with Storm to double the lightning strikes.
  • Perpetual Storm - Evocation 6 for 70
    Very situational, casting this will cause some one to eventually dispell or assassinate the caster. However, good for you mages to cast Summon Storm Power.
  • Gale Gate - Thaumaturgy 8 60
    Provinces have a chance of getting hit with a hurricane. Will pay for it self in 3 turns.

Water

• 2 Ice Crafter + Water Booster & Caelian Seraph + Water Booster
  • Rain - Evocation 2 for 1
    Will turn into snow in cold provinces, which is not as good as actual rain. But if you do get rain, you've effectively shutdown fire magic.
• 3 High Seraph
  • Wolven Winter - Alteration 4 for 5
    Great for spreading cold and setting provinces up for your invasion. The setup spell for Murdering Winter.
  • Freezing Mist - Evocation 3
    Another Caelum classic. An aoe spell that can cause up to 50 fatigue damage making it easier for your troops to finish the enemy off. Combine with other fatigue spells to put an enemy armies unconscious. Combine with other fatigue spells to make an enemy armies unconscious.
  • Falling Frost - Evocation 5
    Another great aoe spell to help deal with troops en masse. Deals fatigue damage to those who live. Combine with other fatigue spells to make an enemy armies unconscious.
  • Sailors' Death - Thaumatugry 3
    Great against thugs and troops, decent against SC. Requires multiple mages to be effect. Keep in mind that this only effects those with lungs and no gills.
• 4 High Seraph
  • Grip of Winter - Enchantment 6
    Great when dealing with large armies who don't have cold resistance. Combine with other fatigue spells to make an enemy armies unconscious.
• 5 High Seraph + water boosted
  • Murdering Winter - Evocation 7 for 40
    The bane of human hp nations but costly. Brutally effective in cold 3 provinces and a great followup to Wolven Winter

Note: All of the following items will have a further discount of 1 more with an Ice Crafter. The cheaper items can even go all the way to the minimum price of 1 gem with a Dwarven Hammer.

• Ice Lance - 1 Construction 0 for 4
  Niche piercing weapon, giving a charge bonus for flyers or mounted commanders and good for repelling anything shorter than a spear.
• Ice Sword - 1 Construction 0 for 4
  With +3 to the defense skill you can give your commanders a fighting chance in close combat.
• Ice Helmet - 1 Construction 2 for 4
  Good for giving your mages a helmet, especially indies who lack Airyan/Spire Horn cold resistance.
• Ice Aegis - 2 Construction 2 for 8
  When in cold dominion, this shield improves whatever armour is being worn in addition to a large increase in defense.

Items to look out for

• Coral Blade - 1 Construction 2 for 5
  Highly recommended. Adds 8 hit points and causes bleeding on hit. The first benefit can save a frail High Seraph (particularly a valued variant). Both benefits are excellent for Ahurani going on marine raids. The +2 attack & defence is nice.
• Trueshot Longbow - 1 Construction 2 for 5
  Good to give to Airya Nobles so they can do something. Not a high priority.
• Eye of Aiming - 1 Construction 2 for 5
  Kind of a waste but slightly memey. Really makes your spells land on the enemy.
• Owl Quill - 1 Construction 2 for 5
  A free +6 researcher. Lets you meet research goals on time. Definitely high priority.
• Thunder Bow - 2 Construction 4 for 10
  Kind of memey and expensive but lets your Airya Nobles join in on the lightning slinging fun. Very thematic and satisfying to watch en masse.
• Robe of the Sea - 3 Construction 4 for 15
  Good for boosting water magic. You wont be invading the sea anytime soon (unless going straight for Ahurani).
• Winged Helmet - 4 Construction 4 for 25
  Good for boosting air magic. Not terribly needed since your mages already have high air magic.
• Bag of Winds - 5 Construction 4 for 40
  A cheaper empowerment for higher air magic or for those who already have Winged Helmet
• Water Lens - 1 Construction 4 for 5
  Great for combat gem economy and water ritual range.
• Water Bracelet - 1 Construction 6 for 5
  Apparently the cheapest magic booster in the game, and now cheaper thanks to Ice Crafters. Great help for casting Wolven Winter or Freezing Mist. Also expands your Ice Crafter's repertoire.
• Bow of War - 1 Construction 6 for 5
  Great for Airya Nobles en masse against light armor. Very memey but very cool to watch.
• Staff of Storms - 5 Construction 6 for 40
  Ultimate goal for air magic and has a high priority. Casts Storm start of battle so you can have Summon Storm Power at the start of script. Just make sure to not lose it.
• Tempest - 5 Construction 8 for 40
  Does Staff of Storms but looks cooler. Give to your highest level air mage to free cast Thunder Strike.
• Amulet of the Doppelganger - Construction 8 for 10
  Makes a Seraphine irresistible and boosts their already good stealth. Just make sure to give them something in case the seduction fails

This is probably the most difficult section to get consensus for. Describe how strong the nation is during expansion, the early, mid and late game, and what makes it strong/weak at each of those points. This should give readers an idea of where the weaknesses of a nation lie (if they have not been shown already) and when to take advantage of a nation's strengths.

List some example expansion strategies here. If a strong bless or pretender is required then leave the specifics for the pretender section.

List some example pretender builds. Try to use the following format to keep authorship and pretender design rationale clear.

The Mammoth Introduction to Middle Age Caelum by The Murderous Titanium Puffin (2022)

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia